On a day the Dow (^DJI) hit the highest level in its history, it's pointless to ask why prison cells remain criminally unoccupied by the well-compensated captains of industry who caused the financial crisis. Not when British jail operator Serco (SECCY) just jumped 8.9% and correctional facility king Geo Group (GEO) advanced 2.02% to a fresh peak in a showing that may add a few bucks to its sports stadium naming rights.

Today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, forecasts call for a fall in January factory orders, while the Federal Reserve releases its March beige book surveying a dozen regional economic conditions at 2:00 p.m. In earnings action, American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), Big Lots (BIG), Brown-Forman (BF-B), Delek US Holdings (DK), Hovnanian Enterprises (HOV), PetSmart (PETM), and Staples (SPLS) are all due to report results.

Agilent (A): Shares are launched with an Outperform at Leerink Swann.

Air Delivery & Freight Services: FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) and United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) are each established with Outperforms at Oppenheimer, whose respective price objectives are $124 and $95. Improved economic activity and e-commerce growth are both seen as share price catalysts.

Biotechnology: Peregrine Pharmaceuticals (PPHM), Vanda Pharmaceuticals (VNDA), and Vivus (VVUS) are all picked up with an Overweight at Piper Jaffray, which has a new Neutral on Clovis Oncology (CLVS).

Bright Horizons Family Solutions (BFAM): The child care provider is a new Neutral at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Robert W. Baird, whose price objective is $30. Steady annual revenue growth and margin expansion is offset by a current premium in the share price. Bank of America-Merrill Lynch (Buy), Barclays (Overweight), and Credit Suisse (Outperform) are more bullish.

John Wood Group plc (PINK:WDGJF): The British-based oil and gas outfit is begun with an Overweight at HSBC Securities, sending it up sharply in today's London trading.

Mueller Water Products (MWA): Macquarie establishes an Outperform and $7 target on the stock.

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals (NAVB): The medical appliance outfit is a new Underweight at Piper Jaffray.

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NBY): Ascendiant Capital assigns a Strong Buy and $2.25 price objective on the micro-cap, as the broker has high hopes for its NVC-422 as a treatment against adenoviral conjunctivitis (pink eye).

The information on this website solely reflects the analysis of or opinion about the performance of securities and financial markets by the writers whose articles appear on the site. The views expressed by the writers are not necessarily the views of Minyanville Media, Inc. or members of its management. Nothing contained on the website is intended to constitute a recommendation or advice addressed to an individual investor or category of investors to purchase, sell or hold any security, or to take any action with respect to the prospective movement of the securities markets or to solicit the purchase or sale of any security. Any investment decisions must be made by the reader either individually or in consultation with his or her investment professional. Minyanville writers and staff may trade or hold positions in securities that are discussed in articles appearing on the website. Writers of articles are required to disclose whether they have a position in any stock or fund discussed in an article, but are not permitted to disclose the size or direction of the position. Nothing on this website is intended to solicit business of any kind for a writer's business or fund. Minyanville management and staff as well as contributing writers will not respond to emails or other communications requesting investment advice.